26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
In our reading, Amos is angry with the people. There were many poor people living in Jerusalem at the time Amos was writing. He was angry because people who said they believed in God did not care about the poor and did not share with them.
Our gospel in the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Lazarus was very poor and he would sit outside the house where a rich man lived, hoping for scraps of food. The rich man ignored Lazarus every day and he always had the best of everything – food, clothes, etc. He never noticed or shared with Lazarus. When Lazarus died, he went to heaven with Abraham. When the rich man died, he went to hell. He wanted Lazarus to warn his brothers who also lived like the rich man but Abraham would not let Lazarus do that because the brothers should have known how God wants us to live. God is so generous to us. He is the creator of heaven and earth. He doesn't charge us for the sun, the rain, or the air we breath. He shares it with all his children, no matter how old, what size, or what colour we are. We are called to share with others, too.
Special Saint/Feast Day: St. Cosmas and St. Damian – Sept. 26th
Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers from Syria. They very famous students of science and both became excellent doctors. They saw in every patient a brother or sister in Christ.
They showed great charity to all and treated their patients to the best of their ability. No matter how much care a patient required, Cosmos and Damian did not accept any money for their work.
They always told their patients about Jesus, the Son of God.
In 303 when there was persecution of Christians in their city, Cosmas and Damian were arrested. They never hid their love for their Christian faith and nothing could make them stop believing in Jesus. They were put to death along with their three other brothers.
Like St. Cosmas and St. Damian, we can be signs of Christian faith for those we meet each day. By seeing Christ in others and treating all people fairly and with kindness, we will set an example of loving others as Jesus loves us.